How to solve home network problems with Powerline™

It’s the best-kept secret in home networking: technology that extends high-performance networking throughout your building easily, unobtrusively, and cost-effectively.

In addition to being super-simple to set up, PowerLine networking devices can help you solve a variety of networking problems you might encounter using traditional wired and wireless networking standards. Instead of Ethernet cables or wireless signals, PowerLine routes network traffic through your building’s electrical wiring, extending your network’s reach to any room with a power outlet. It’s an easy, affordable method that lets you mix and match a variety of devices — including PowerLine adapters, routers and extenders — to add connection points wherever you need them. From home entertainment equipment in the living room to the home office in your basement, PowerLine lets a variety of devices communicate with the Internet and one another.

Best of all, you don’t have to sacrifice speed to take advantage of PowerLine convenience. The latest generation of PowerLine products is fast enough to keep up with a busy household. The technology now comes in two speeds. Traditional PowerLine transfers data at 200Mbps (megabits per second). That’s suitable for moderate traffic, up to streaming a high-def video signal from a computer or ShareCenterTMstorage to a media player or a networked HDTV. Lately, PowerLine devices have hit the market that operate at 500Mbps. This higher speed lets you stream movies, games, and music simultaneously and transfer more, and larger, files without bogging down performance. Moreover, it gives your network a high-performance backbone for high-bandwidth devices.

Let’s take a look at how various PowerLine products can solve common networking challenges.

Problem: Devices out of range

PowerLine extends your network to devices outside the range of an existing Wi-Fi signal or Ethernet wiring. PowerLine adapters, such as those in D-Link’s PowerLine Kits (DHP-309AV, DHP-P339AV, DHP-W311AV and the higher-speed DHP-601AV) solve this problem easily. Connect a router to one of the PowerLine adapters in the box via Ethernet and plug the adapter into an electrical outlet, and network traffic will flow through the building’s internal wiring. Now you can connect another device to the other adapter and plug it into another electrical outlet anywhere in the building. Presto! Your network can reach devices throughout the building. If you want to connect more devices, simply add more PowerLine adapters in your network.

Problem: A large area out of wireless range.

What if you want to extend an existing wireless network to an area where the signal doesn’t reach — say, a patio or a basement? The solution is a PowerLine extender such as the D-Link PowerLine AV Wireless N Extender (DHP-W310AV, or, if you are new to PowerLine, the PowerLine AV Wireless N Starter Kit (DHP-W311AV). In this case, PowerLine carries network traffic to the wireless extender — it’s like having a second wireless router that echoes the first. Just plug the extender into the wall, enter the appropriate settings, and you’re done. Wireless devices within the extender’s range will join your network securely and without fuss.

PowerLine is a powerful, flexible, cost-effective, and above all easy solution for all kinds of networking challenges. PowerLine adapters and extenders afford network access anywhere with an electrical outlet.